When Germany meets Hungary on Friday, Andras Schäfer will be involved. Hungary’s footballer of the year has become a regular player at Union Berlin this season. On the way he had to overcome many hurdles.
Every child in Hungary knows Andras Schäfer’s crying face. After his team was unluckily eliminated in the final group match against Germany at the European Football Championship in summer 2021, the midfielder stood in tears in front of his team’s fans and applauded. Even his header goal against Manuel Neuer was not enough to qualify for the round of 16.
A little over a year later, Schäfer and his teammates get their chance to take revenge. Hungary meets Germany again in the Nations League on Friday. For the first time, Schäfer will travel to his national team as a Bundesliga regular.
Andras Schäfer celebrates for Hungary.
adjustment period is over
It was always his dream to play in the Bundesliga, said Andras Schäfer in an interview with the club media of 1. FC Union Berlin a few weeks ago. After coming to the Bundesliga in the second half of the previous season, Schäfer has really fulfilled the part with “playing” in the first few weeks of the new season. The 23-year-old was always in the starting XI in the last four competitive games for the Irons.
“The tempo is much faster here, the players much better,” he explained of his adjustment period after moving from Slovakia to Union. In the meantime, he enriches the front runner with his good technique, dynamic runs, creative passing and robust duel behavior.
About detours to player of the year
For a long time, no one in his home country believed him capable of the latter. Because Schäfer has asthma and, as a youth player, was too small and frail in the eyes of his coaches, he played little despite his technical finesse. He was only discovered late. After a good season in the second Hungarian league, he moved to Italy, where he could not assert himself. This was followed by a detour via Slovakia.
After the European Championship, Schäfer recalled: “A year ago I was still hoping to get into the starting XI of my club somehow, I could only dream of representing my country.” His national coach Marco Rossi trusted him when some of the regulars dropped out, Schäfer repaid it with good performances. Months later, the still rather slim midfielder was voted the 2021 Hungarian Footballer of the Year.
Andras Schäfer played Union Berlin against RB Leipzig
The 1. FC Union wins in the stadium at the old forester in the collective. But against RB Leipzig, Andras Schäfer hinted that he could soon become a pillar of his team. By Till Oppermannmore
Through the brick wall
Probably also because his compatriots appreciate Schäfer’s fearlessness. After his goal against Germany, in which he almost clashed with the much taller Manuel Neuer, he said he didn’t care about the potential clash. “I would have headed the ball through a brick wall to score.”
With this attitude, the iron Andras will also face the German national team on Friday. In the Hungarian jersey he was used in every position in central midfield, now he will probably be given the task of destroying German attacks and carrying the won ball into the opposing half with his dribbling as a more defensive middle player.
Confident underdog
The best thing about football is being able to play against one of the best teams in the world without pressure and with a feeling of freedom, Schäfer enthused at the beginning of September after the Draw with Union against FC Bayern. In view of the fact that five Bayern professionals are still playing for Germany without the departure of Manuel Neuer and Leon Goretzka, this feeling could be repeated. Union would eventually prove that teamwork can even out differences between individual players – just like the Hungarian team did a year ago, said Schäfer.
While the Hungarian, in Union fashion, willingly tries to slip into the underdog role, he’s not lacking in confidence. When asked if he was a deserving footballer of the year, Schäfer replied: “If someone asked me to make a list, I would start with my name.”
Broadcast: rbb24 Inforadio, September 20th, 2022, 10:15 a.m
